Blusens team manager Ricard Jové discusses Viñales split

“He first told us last night that he did not want to continue until the end of the season because he was unhappy with the bike, and we at first thought it was just him saying something like any other rider….well, in the end he didn’t turn up and we don’t take this behaviour very well, because in the end we are second in the championship, have taken five wins, seven podiums and have had a worthy season. It does not make any kind of sense to not at least finish the championship - about this I cannot say any more - but it was the rider who ultimately decided not to get on the bike.

“This works in reverse as well as you have a contract - you work, do the season, and then we can discuss, away from the media limelight, if we terminate the deal. But now, you can’t stop from one day to the next as you have commitments with the sponsors, with the mechanics, the years spent with the team in his career. We should not be nothing to him; it has been a pleasure to work together but today it is clear that before reaching that point you have to first finish your work and then discus other points.

“For conditions that we cannot accept if not discussed, this decision cannot be reached in ten or twelve hours. We are really sorry because it is not a situation created by us and we are confident we have given the maximum at all times, but obviously there are days you win and days you lose, and you have to learn to win and you have to learn to lose.

“Next year, he's already been informed of everything that would be available or would not have been. And I repeat that this is simply an error airing these views that you could discuss, try to fix, and within a few hours something could have changed. We do not understand his decision and we feel bad for the team; I think it’s wrong by the sponsors and the people who are contributing to his career.”